Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

ABT reveals new sales to Glencore and BHP

Advanced Braking Technology has revealed new sales of its failsafe heavy vehicle braking systems to mining companies Glencore and BHP, as part of an activities report to shareholders. The Perth company said sales for Q2 FY23 were up 50.8 percent on the previous corresponding period to $3.96 million. Sales for the half were up 31.5 percent to $6.99 million. ABT said it had cemented its position as supplier of sealed integrated braking systems to BHP with additional orders received to equip the light vehicle fleet at the company’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in South Australia. CEO Andrew Booth said: “I am very encouraged by by our continued developments in the mining market.” Also, progress was reported in ABT’s joint development programme with Glencore. The parties expect this will lead to deployment of ABT systems across the company’s Volvo FMX trucks globally.

Gold Coast’s Plant Doctor expands in freeze dried plant foods

Gold Coast-based company Plant Doctor has expanded its manufacturing arm with the launch of a new and specialised business AgTech Freeze Drying. Operating from a 220sqm site in Biggera Waters (pictured), the purpose-built facility has added the supply of freeze dried powdered food products to its traditional business of manufacturing environmentally friendly fertilisers and soil conditioners. Plant Doctor Managing Director Adam Fitzhenry said making the investment was a logical decision given the growth of the industry and a gap identified in the market. Fitzhenry said: “Freeze drying powders is one of the fastest growing markets in the world and it’s an advantageous offering to what we’re currently doing with our food manufacturing arm. There’s a handful of people who specialise in freeze drying and a significant number of people wanting it done, so we’ve seen a bottleneck in this throughout South East Queensland.” Plant doctor freeze dries on demand, as well as supplying a range of fast moving white labelled products.

Altech Chemicals reports progress on new battery design

Altech Chemicals has reported ‘outstanding’ progress in its development of its novel Cerenergy grid-scale storage battery alternative to lithium-ion technology. The technology, which utilises table salt but no expensive heavy metals, is being developed with the assistance of Germany’s Fraunhofer IKTS institute. A 60 KWh battery pack has been developed as the basis for a 100 MWh grid battery, equipment suppliers selected and a site layout developed for a battery to be deployed in Saxony, Germany. Two technical workshop were held at the company’s site in Schwarz Pumpe, Germany late in 2022. Altech is exploring various grant schemes available in Germany and has held discussions with EU banks.

ResMed announces strong second quarter revenue growth

Sleep apnea equipment manufacturer ResMed has announced revenue for the second quarter of $1.44 billion (US$1.03 billion), up 16 percent on the previous corresponding period on a constant currency basis. CEO Mick Farrell said the company had significantly increased production and delivery of ‘flow generators’ to meet ‘incredible’ customer demand. Sales grew strongly in the Americas and the 140 countries where its devices are on sale. During the quarter ResMed passed the final regulatory hurdles to its purchase of Germany’s MEDIFOX DAN. This marked the company’s first foray outside the United States of its out of hospital, software as a service business. During the quarter ResMed spend $97.7 million on R&D.

New Deputy Director at Data61

CSIRO’s Data61 division has a new Deputy Director and Science Director, computer scientist Professor Aaron Quigley. In a Q and A with Quigley, published on CSIRO’s website on Sunday, he was asked about areas of opportunity interested him in his new role. “Humans and machines are a powerful force where advances in analytics and engineering can effect real change in the world. Data61 has great capacity internally to make changes on the world,” he said. “However, it’s our position at the apex of digital research within CSIRO which can magnify what we aim to achieve here. Our work is embedded in a wider context and questions from our stakeholders can drive the question we pursue and open up new avenues for our thinking.”

Engineers working in Victoria reminded to register

Engineers Australia has issued a reminder of the upcoming Victorian requirement that electrical and electronics engineers must be registered in order to work in the state. From June 1 this year, electrical and electronics professional engineers practising in Victoria must be registered, including engineers living in other states and territories but working on projects in Victoria. EA advised engineers to complete the first step of applying for a competency assessment by March and is running a free information session on Victorian registration on March 1 (see link).  The organisation’s Chief Engineer Jane MacMaster said compulsory registration of professional engineers will enable significant enhancement of public safety and consumer confidence. “Registration helps to ensure that only those with suitable qualifications, enough relevant experience and a proven commitment to ongoing training and professional development can provide engineering services,” said MacMaster on Monday. More information is available here.

Picture: Plant Doctor/Biggera Waters